Light emitting diode device

ABSTRACT

A light emitting diode device which includes an outer housing having a cylindrically shaped enlarged head and an integrally formed extended body portion. The head has a socket formed by an interiorly presented side wall sized and shaped to receive the skirt section of a lens. A recess is formed on the interiorly presented side wall of the socket and is sized to accommodate a projecting locking member on the skirt section of the lens. The body of the housing includes a chamber which is designed to accommodate a resistor and which is, in turn, soldered or otherwise connected to a light emitting diode within the housing in such manner that the diode and the resistor may be removed from the housing as a single unit.

United States Patent 1191 Savage, Jr.

[ 1 June 3, 1975 1 LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DEVICE [76] Inventor: John M.Savage, Jr., Los Angeles,

Calif.

22 Filed: May 28,1974

[21] Appl. No.: 474,094

[52] US. Cl 240/151; 174/138 G; 339/113 R; 339/119 L; 339/125 L; 340/381[51] Int. Cl. F21V 17/00; G09F 9/14 [58] Field 01' Search 240/151, 152,8.16; 340/381; 174/138 G; 339/113 R, 119 L, 125 L [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,361 6/1952 Beal 340/381 X 2,946,994 7/1960Dumke et 5:11,.v .1 340/381 3,207,954 9/1965 Elliott i i i 174/138 G3,229,083 11/1966 George, Jr... .1 240/152 X 3,286,255 11/1966Sanchez 1. 240/151 X 3,435,449 3/1969 Sloan 340/381 3,604,918 9/1971Cook 240/8.16 3,611,360 10/1971 Bailey 240/152 X 3,777,137 12/1973Costanzo et a1. 240/152 X 3,818,486 6/1974 Bailey 340/381 FOREIGNPATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1,043,359 9/1966 United Kingdom 174/525 PrimaryExaminer-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William W.Haefliger [57] ABSTRACT A light emitting diode device which includes anouter housing having a cylindrically shaped enlarged head and anintegrally formed extended body portion. The head has a socket formed byan interiorly presented side wall sized and shaped to receive the skirtsection of a lens. A recess is formed on the interiorly presented sidewall of the socket and is sized to accommodate a projecting lockingmember on the skirt section of the lens. The body of the housingincludes a chamber which is designed to accommodate a resistor and whichis, in turn, soldered or otherwise connected to a light emitting diodewithin the housing in such manner that the diode and the resistor may beremoved from the housing as a single unit.

17 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNS w'rs SHEET FIG. H

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates in general to certain new and useful improvements in lightemitting diode devices, and more particularly, to unique modularcomponents for constructing light emitting diode devices.

In recent years, light emitting diodes, or so-called LEDs," have becomequite popular and extensively used in a wide variety of electronicapparatus and sys tems. Normally, the light emitting diode is includedwith an outer housing of the type which comprises a body and anintegrally formed head. The diode is normally contained within the headand a lens is removably attached to the head. When the light emittingdiode per-se is included within the housing and covered by a lens, thiscombination is usually referred to as a light emitting diode device," ora LED device.

Light emitting diodes per-se represent a significant advance over theprior art of radiation emitting devices. However, little attention hasbeen directed to the housings in which these diodes are used and thesehousings suffer a number of deficiencies. Many of the housings orso-called holders" included an integrally formed boss or raised area onthe back wall so that the back wall of the housing could be spaced froma circuit board or similar substrate or mounting member in order topermit flux-washing after wave soldering operations. However, the veryprovision of this extended boss created a difficulty in mounting thehousing to a circuit board or similar substrate. Moreover, thosecommercially available light emitting diode devices are not designed sothat the device can be inserted into D type apertures on a circuit boardor similar substrate or other display device.

One of the principal drawbacks of the commercially available lightemitting diode devices is that they are not constructed of modularcomponents. Consequently, an individual lens must be designed for aparticular individual housing. Moreover, each lenshousing combination isuniquely designed to accommodate only one type of light emitting diode.Therefore, it is necessary to produce a large variety of sizes andshapes of these various light emitting diode devices. Consequently, eachuser of light emitting diode devices must carry a large inventory ofsuch devices including every size and shape thereof which may beutilized in any particular system.

The commercially available diode devices also suffer from anotherserious disadvantage in that the entire device must be discarded andreplaced by a new device when the diode has burned out, or is otherwiseinetficient for its intended purpose. The present commercially availablediode devices include the diode which is permanently affixed within thehousing and usually include a resistor which is also permanently affixedwithin the housing. Consequently, even if the resistor should becomefaulty, it is necessary to replace an entire diode device. The removalof the diode device from a circuit board or other form of apparatus notonly provides economic waste, but is costly in terms of the labor timerequired to remove the device and solder a new one in place.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to providelight emitting diode devices of the type stated which permit replacementof a diode or electronic component, such as a resistor, without removalof the diode housing from its mounted position on a substrate.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a systemincluding modular components capable of being connected in a variety ofcombinations to provide a variety of light emitting diode devices.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide lightemitting diode devices of the type stated which can be constructed at arelatively low cost and which are highly efficient in their operation.

With the above the other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination ofparts previously described and pointed out in the claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The present invention can be described in generalterms as a light emitting diode device which comprises an outer housing.This housing is provided with an elongated body and an enlarged headconnected to the body and preferably is integral with the body. Thishead is provided with an interiorly presented wall forming a sockettherein. The socket is adapted to receive a radiation emitting diode insuch manner that at least a portion of the diode communicates with thesocket, A lens is also provided with the diode device. This lensincludes an outer section and an annular skirt section projecting fromthe outer section. The skirt section of the lens is sized to removablyextend within the socket.

In one aspect of the present invention, a recess is formed on theinteriorly presented wall of the socket. A somewhat resilient projectinglocking means is provided on the skirt section of the lens and is sizedand located to fit within the recess, when the skirt is introduced intothe socket. In this way, the lens may be removably retained in thehousing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resilient projectinglocking means is an annular ring which extends around the skirt section.In another embodiment of the present invention, this locking meanscomprises a plurality of projecting elements which are circumferentiallyspaced around the skirt section in spaced apart relationship. Theseprojecting elements preferably have obliquely located walls which aredesigned to extend within the annular recess on the interiorly presentedwall.

In a further modified form of the light emitting diode device of thepresent invention, the skirt section is designed to snugly engage theinteriorly presented wall so as to be snuggly, but neverthelessremovably, received within the socket. In this way, the lens may bepulled from and inserted into the socket in a somewhat snapfittingmanner.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the interiorlypresented wall is tapered inwardly to produce a diametrally reducedinner end. In still a fur ther embodiment of the present invention, theskirt section of the lens is provided with at least one slit to permitdiametral contraction and expansion of the skirt section. Generally, aplurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending slits areprovided in the skirt section.

The housing of the present invention may be cylindrical in shape with asubstantially flat back wall so that the housing can be mounted in anupright position. In another embodiment of the present invention, thebody of the housing may be provided with one flat wall so that thehousing can be mounted on a circuit board or similar structure in arelatively flat position. In addition. this latter shape enablesinsertion of the housing into a D-type hole on a circuit board or otherreceiving member. This flat wall preferably extends axially along thebody for the full axial length of the body.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the body has atransversely extending back wall which extends across the body. In oneembodiment, a pair of conductive terminals extend through the back walland are provided for connection to a source of power. In anotherembodiment of the present invention. the conductive terminals extendthrough the back wall and a clip extends around the arcuately shapedannular side wall of the body of the housing for mounting the housing tothe substrate. In actual practice, this clip has a portion thereof whichis wrapped about a portion of the arcuately shaped annular wall so thatit is retentively held thereon.

One of the unique features of the present invention is that the body ofthe housing is provided with a chamber which communicates with thesocket. A radiation emitting diode is locatable within this socket andhas at least one electrical diode terminal. A resistor or other form ofelectronic component is locatable in the chamber and is capable of beingattached to the electrical diode terminal. Generally, this attachment isformed by means of soldering. The housing includes a retention means inorder to retentively, but nevertheless removably, hold the resistorwithin the chamber. This retention means preferably adopts the form ofan arm which extends from the back wall of the body. In this way, theresistor and the diode may be removably held within the housing so theycan be removed therefrom as a single unit.

In another salient embodiment of the present invention, the back wall ofthe housing is provided with a pair of embossments, and each of which islocated in close proximity to a respective one of the pair of terminalsextending from the back wall. This first embossment has a shape of aconductive terminal designation, such as a sign and the secondembossment also has the shape of another conductive terminaldesignation, such as a sign. In addition, a third embossment means inthe form of information bearing indicia, as for example, a name or partnumber may be provided on the back wall and which is spaced from thefirst and second embossments.

The present invention may also be described as a system of modularcomponents which are used to construct various forms of light emittingdiode devices. This system comprises a plurality of housings of the typedescribed. This system also includes the plurality of radiation emittingdiodes of the type described. Some of these diodes have a size whichdiffer from other of the diodes. Nevertheless, each of the diodes thesocket of any of the housings in somewhat of a snap-fitting manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus described the invention ingeneral terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a light emitting diode deviceconstructed in accordance with and em bodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a modified form of light emittingdiode device constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the diode device of FIG. Isubstantially taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the diode device of FIG. 2substantially taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional veiw taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 andshowing one form of locking means for retaining a lens within a housingforming part of the diode device;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional veiw, similar to FIG. 6, and showinganother form of locking means for retaining a lens within a housing;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, and showing askirt section forming part of the lens;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of one form of lens constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a modified form of lensconstructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, andshowing a further modified form of locking means for retaining a lenswithin a housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in more detail and by referencecharacters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of thepresent invention, A designates a light emitting diode device which ismore fully illustrated in FIg. l of the drawings. The light emittingdiode device A generally comprises a body 10 which includes acylindrical section 12 having an annular exterior side wall 14 whichmerges into a relatively flat back wall 16. The cylindrical section 12integrally merges into an axially extending serrated section 18 whichincludes a plurality of wedge shaped ridges 20. Moreover, the serratedsection 18 merges into a connecting sleeve 22 which in turn integrallymerges into an enlarged head 24.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be observed that the head 24 is providedwith a cylindrically shaped socket 26 formed by an interiorly presentedwall 28. The socket 26 is sized and designed to acommodate a lightemitting diode 29. Moreover, the socket 26 is designed to accommodatethe skirt 30 of a lens or a so-called lens cap 32. The actual details ofconstruction of the means for retaining the lens 32 within the socket 26is hereafter described in more detail.

Extending through the back wall 16 and projecting outwardly therefrom isa pair of conductive terminals 34 and 36, often referred to as *pins" orposts." These pins 34 and 36 are sized to extend through holes formed ina circuit board or other substrate (not shown) and thereafter bent andsoldered to a conductive strip or other electrical conductor. In thisway, power is delivered to the light emitting diode for energizing thesame. Moreover, it can be observed that the light emitting diode A maybe mounted in the upright position so that the back wall I6 is disposedin juxtaposed relationship to the flat surface of the circuit board orsimilar substrate.

In many applications, the interior body portion of the diode device Acould be sized to extend through a circular aperture within a circuitboard of similar substrate. In this case, the serrated section l8provides somewhat of a snap-type locking arrangement within theaperture. Moreover, the enlarged head 24 provides a rearwardly presentedshoulder 38 which would be designed to engage the flat surface of theprinted circuit board for mounting. In like manner the diode devices ofthe present invention are adapted for panel mounting in various forms ofapparatus.

In the prior art, it was common to provide an embossment on the backwall 16 to engage the circuit board or other substrate so that the backwall 16 would remain in spaced apart relationship to the flat surface ofthe circuit board. This embossment was generally provided in order tofacilitate flux washing after a wave soldering operation. Moreover, theprior art provided a printed indicia next to the terminals 34 and 36 toindicate either a positive or negative terminal. The present inventionobviates the need of an embossment and further provides indicia in theform of a pair of embossments 40 and 42, in the manner as illustrated inFIG. 3 of the drawings. It can be observed that the emboss' ment 40 islocated in close proximity to the terminal 34 and the embossment 42 islocated in close proximity to the terminal 36. In this way, it ispossible to obviate the need of printing the terminal designations onthe back wall 16 and further, the pair of embossments 40 and 42 actuallyfacilitates the mounting of the housing in an upright position on thecircuit board.

Also located on the back wall 16 are a plurality of embossed letters 43which are spaced apart from the embossments 40 and 42 and are preferablylocated along the periphery of the back wall 16. The letters may adoptthe name of the manufacturer or distributor, etc., of the devices of thepresent invention. These letters may also adopt the form of a trademark,or other similar designation. The embossed letters 43 also cooperatewith the embossments 40 and 42 by enabling the housing to be supportedin an upright position for purposes of mounting.

FIG. 2 illustrated a modified form of light emitting diode device Bconstructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention. Thediode device B also includes an outer housing 46 having a body 48 which,in turn, integrally merges into a serrated section 50. Moreover, theserrated section 50 integrally merges into a connecting sleeve 52 which,in turn, is integrally formed with an enlarged head 54. In like manner,it can be observed that the head 54 is designed to accommodate the lens32, illustrated in FIG. 1, or otherwise a modified form of lens 56, asillustrated in FIG. 2. In the case of the housing 10, the body 12 wascylindrical in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.However, the body 48 includes an arcuately shaped wall 58 which iscylindrical for the greater portion of its annular surface andintegrally merges into a flat wall 60, in the manner as illustrated inFIG. 4 of the drawings. Moreover, by further reference to FIG. 2, it canbe observed that the flat wall 60 extends for the entire length of thebody 48 including the serrated section 50 and the connecting sleeve 52.By means of this construction, the diode device B can be laid in aflatwise position on the circuit board or other substrate so that theflat wall 60 engages the upper surface of the circuit board.

The body 48 is also provided with a relatively flat back wall 62 andprojecting through the back wall 62 are a pair of conductive terminalsor pins 63 and 63'. Moreover, the back wall 62 is provided with a pairof outwardly extending integrally formed embossments 64 and 64' whichboth provide terminal indicia for the two terminals 63 and 63'.Moreover, each one of the embossments 64 and 64' is located in closeproximity to respective ones of the terminals 63 and 63. In this case,by reference to FIG. 4, it can be observed that the embossment 64 adoptsa form of a plus" sign and the embossment 64' adopts the form of anegative" sign. For that matter, these embossments 64 and 64' couldadopt any other form of indicia. In addition, the back wall 62 isprovided with the embossed letters 65 representing the name,manufacturer, trademark, etc. of the party producing the devices of thepresent invention.

A clip 66 is wrapped about the serrated section 50 and is integrallyprovided with a pair of downwardly ex tending terminal arms 68. The armsare also sized to fit within and extend through properly sized andspaced apertures in a circuit board or similar substrate. The portionsof the arms extending through the circuit board are then bent at rightangles to retentively hold the housing onto the circuit board.

The light emitting diode device 8 is designed to be disposed on thesurface of a printed circuit board or other substrate in a flatwisecondition as indicated above. In this case, the two conductive terminals63 and 63' would also extend through suitable apertures formed withinthe circuit board. Thereafter, these terminals 64 and 68 could be bentto the desired position and soldered or otherwise connected to otherforms of conductors. However, it should be observed that the pin 63', inplace of extending through the rear wall 62, could be substituted forthe clip 66, and wrapped about the serrated section 50 with one endthereof extending downwardly beyond the flat wall 60. In this way, thepin 63' could also function as the retaining clip, thereby eliminatingthe need for the retaining clip. The opposite end of the pin 63' wouldextend through a suitable aperture (not shown) in the housing foroperative connection to the diode.

The details of construction of the head 24 and the lens 32 are morefully illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The lens 32 includesthe skirt 30 which is cylindrical in shape and integrally merges into ahemispherical end dome 70. The inner end of the skirt 30 which definesthe open end of the lens 32 is provided with a section 74 of reducedthickness. In this way the section 74 is capable of yielding somewhatupon entry into the socket 26. It can be observed that the interiorlypresented wall 28 is designed so that the skirt 30 snugly engages thewall 28 upon entry into the socket 26. Moreover, the wall 28 may betapered inwardly so that the outer end thereof is diametrally reducedwith respect to the open end of the head 24. This tapered wall 28, alongwith the section 74 of reduced thickness. facilitates entry of andremoval of the skirt 30 into and from the socket 26.

The device A of the present invention also includes a unique lockingmeans comprised of an annular locking ring 76 projecting radiallyoutwardly from the sleeve 30. In a preferred form of construction. thisring 76 is integral with the sleeve 30 and is preferably located in thesection 74 of reduced thickness. The interi orly presented side wall 28is provided with an annular recess 78 which is sized and located toremovably ac commodate the annular locking ring 76 on the sleeve 30.Inasmuch as the locking ring 78 is located in the section 74 of reducedthickness. it can be conveniently pulled from its locking position inrecess 78 by merely grasping and pulling on the outer end of the lens32. In like manner. the ring can be inserted into its locked position.as illustrated in FIG. of the drawings, by merely pushing on the enddome 70 of the lens 32.

By further reference to FIG. 5. it can be observed that the lens 32 mayretentively hold the diode 29 in place within the socket 26. The diode29 may adopt many forms of construction. depending upon the particularmanufacturer thereof. Nevertheless the devices of the present inventionare capable of accommodating substantially any type of diode thus made.In this case. the diode 29 includes a bulb portion 80 having adiametrally enlarged inner end 82. It can be observed that the enlargedinner end 82 may abut against an annular shoulder 84 formed within thesocket. in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. However.this abutting position is not necessary inasmuch as the diode could beretentively held by means of its terminals in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

FIG. 9 illustrates one form of construction of the lens 32 which may beprovided with a series of axially extending circumferentially spacedslits 86. In this case, three such slits are shown as indicated in FIG.8, al though it should be recognized that any number of slits could beprovided around the inner end of lens 32. In this way. it is possible toeliminate the diametrally re duced section 74, inasmuch as the slits 86will permit diametral contraction and expansion of the inner end of thelens as it is being inserted into the socket 26. Moreover. it can beobserved that the lens 32 also includes the locking ring 76 asillustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings. It should be further observedwith respect to the lens 32 as illustrated in FIG. 9, that the slits 86terminate prior to the annular locking ring 76.

FIGS. 7. 8 and further illustrate a modified form oflocking mechanismwhich may be used to secure the lens within the enlarged head of thehousing. In this case, the skirt 30 of the lens 32 is provided with aplurality of outwardly extending locking lugs 88. Although. only threesuch lugs 88 have been illustrated, it should be understood that anynumber of lugs could be employed. Furthermore, these lugs arecircumferentially spaced in axial alignment about the skirt 30. Theselugs 88 are preferably provided with oblique sidewalls 90. FIG. 7illustrates the employment of the lugs 88 in connection with the lens 32having the section 74 of reduced thickness.

In like manner. the lugs 88 could also be used with that embodiment ofthe skirt employing the slits 86 in the manner as illustrated in FIGS. 8and 10 of the drawings. In this later embodiment. it can be observedthat the lugs 88 would be located within region of the slits 86. Thus,the slits would extend into the wall of the skirt 30 at least to theposition of the lugs 88. In this respect. it should also be observedthat since the lugs 88 are located toward the open end ofthe lens 32,the lens 32 would have the skirt shorter in axial length than when theannular locking ring 78 is employed.

FIG. ll illustrates a further form of locking mechanism which may beused to secure a lens within the housing of the present invention. Inthis case. the housing includes the enlarged head which is provided atits lower end with an annular groove 92. The groove 92 integrally mergesinto a back wall 94 formed within the housing. However. the other end ofthe groove 92 merges into an interior socket wall 96 through a taperedsurface 98. Preferably this tapered surface 98 is -located at about a 45angle with respect to the socket wall 96.

The lens 100 which is used with this locking mechanism is composed of adome 102 which integrally merges into an annular skirt 104. The skirt104, in turn, merges into a section 106 of reduced thickness. Moreover,provided on the outer surface of the section 106 of the reducedthickness in close proximity to the inner or open end of the skirt 104are a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking lugs 108, similar tothe lugs 88. These lugs 108 also include integrally formed abutmentshoulders 110 which engage the tapered surface I 98. However. it shouldbe understood that the lugs could be replaced by a locking ring.However. in this case, the locking rings would not be cylindrical inshape. but include an abutment shoulder which is capa ble of engagingthe tapered surface 98 of the groove 92.

One of the unique aspects of the present invention resides in the factthat the resistor which is normally carried by a light emitting diodedevice and the diode itself can or: removed as a unit in order toreplace either the resistor or the diode. FIG. 5 illustrates theconstruction which enables this advantage. The body 12 of the housing 10is provided with an enlarged chamber 112 which is capable ofaccommodating a resistor 114. It can be observed that the housing alsoincludes an arm 116 terminating in a flange 118 which engages theresistor 114 and thereby holds the resistor 114 against interior wallforming the chamber 112. Moreover, the resistor 114 is provided with aconductive tab 120 which is engage-able with a conductive terminal 122on the diode 29. In this way, the resistor 114 can be connected to thediode 29 through the tab 120 and the terminal 122. This connectionbetween the tab 120 and the terminal 122 is preferably a solderedconnection. Thus, the diode 29 and the resistor 114 can be removed fromtheir position in the housing 10 by merely removing the lens cap 32 andpulling the diode 29 and the resistor 114 outwardly through the socket26.

The conductive terminal 34 extends into the body 12, in the manner asillustrated in FIG. 5, and is integrally formed with a connecting clip124. Although not necessary'. the terminal 34 and the clip 124 may beindividual pieces and the terminal 34 may be soldered to the connectingclip 124 if desired. The opposite end of the connecting clip 124receives a diode terminal 126 in somewhat of a snap-fitting engagement.In this way, the diode can merely be removed from the housing by pullingon the head of the diode so that the terminal 126 is merely pulled outof the clip 124. The conductive terminal 36 is similarly integral with aconnecting clip 128. Again. the clip 128 and the terminal 36 may beindividual pieces with the terminal soldered or otherwise secured to theconnecting clip 128. The connecting clip 128 is also capable ofremovably receiving a terminal 130 from the resistor 114. In likemanner. the resistor 114 may be pulled outwardly through the socket 26so that the terminal 130 is easily removed from the clip 128.

The clips 124 and 128 are preferably formed of a relatively thin metalwhich may be folded over in a form of a U-shaped clip. Moreover. due tothe thin gauge of the metal. it is somewhat resilient so as to removablyreceive the various terminals 126 and 130.

By further reference to FIG. 5 ofthe drawings. it can be observed thatthe position of the clips 124 and 128 are offset from each other. Thusthe clip 124 is located closer to the socket 26 than the clip 128. Inthis way it is impossible to reverse the terminals 126 and 130 since ifthe terminals were reversed they would not properly extend into theclips I24 and 128. More specifically. one of the clips is locatedsufficiently closer to the socket than the other clip that the terminalnormally received by that other clip cannot be sufficientlylongitudinally received by the one clip to allow reception of theremaining terminal by that other clip.

Each of the components described above are all mocular in theirconstruction so that they are inter changeable. In this way. it ispossible to generate a variety of diode devices with just a relativelyfew number of components. Consequently, the user of the diode de vicesachieves a much wider degree of versatility to fill all of the lightemitting diode device needs. In this re spect. it can be observed thatany ofthe lenses 32 or 56 could be utilized in either of the housing ineither of the devices A or B. Moreover, the lenses may be provided withthe section of reduced thickness or the axially located slits, or any ofthe locking means described above.

The housing used in the diode devices may be formed of any of a numberof materials including a wide variety of plastic materials. However,black nylon has been found to be one of the preferred materials ofconstruction. In addition. the lenses also may be made of any of thevariety of plastic materials, although cellulose acetate butyrate hasbeen found to be a preferred material. With respect to the lens. thelens should be transparent to the radiation emitted by the diode 29.Various lens shapes and sizes and colors even moreso add to theversatility of the diode devices. The various clips 124 and 128 arepreferably made of any metals which are relatively thin and tempered tohave a spring type action. In this respect. phospher bronze has beenfound to be highly effective material. In like manner. the terminals orpins also preferably are constructed of phospher bronze and may begold-plated.

Thus there has been illustrated and described various novel lightemitting diode devices and components which can be used in a system forconstructing diode devices and which can all be made at a relatively lowcost and used in a variety of applications. Consequently. the diodedevices and the components thereof fulfill all ofthe objects andadvantages sought therefor. Many changes. modifications. variations andother uses and applications of the diode devices and the componentsthereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art afterConsidering this specification on the accompanying drawings. Therefore.all such changes. modifications. variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limitedonly by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I desire to claim and secure byletters patent is:

l. A light emitting diode device comprising an outer housing. saidhousing having a longitudinally elongated body and an enlarged headconnected to said body. said head having an interiorly presented wallforming a socket therein. a lens having an outer section and an annularskirt section projecting from said outer section. said skirt sectionremovably extending within said socket. recess means formed in saidinteriorly presented wall. and somewhat resilient projecting lockingmeans on said skirt section sized and fitting within said recess meanswhen said skirt section is introduced into said socket for removablyretaining said lens on said outer housing. a light emitting diodereceived within said lens and extending radially inwardly of said recessmeans. the diode having a longitudinally elongated terminal and arelatively short terminal. both said termi nals projecting within ahollow formed by said housing elongated body. a resistor positioned insaid hollow by said body and in endwise alignment with said dioderelatively short terminal. said resistor having a conductive tab and aterminal at longitudinally opposite ends thereof. said tab integrallyconnected to the diode relatively short terminal whereby the diode ispositioned relative to the housing and lens by the resistor. there beingelectrically conductive clips in the housing re movably longitudinallyreceiving and engaging the diode elongated terminal and the resistorterminal. whereby the diode and resistor may be longitudinally removedas a unit from the housing or returned as a unit into the housing viasaid socket after prior removal of the lens therefrom.

2. The light emitting diode device of claim 1 further characterized inthat the resilient projecting locking means on said skirt section is anannular ring extending around the skirt section.

3. The light emitting diode device of cliam I further characterized inthat one of said clips is located suffciently closer to said socket thanthe other clip that the terminal normally received by said other clipcannot be sufficiently longitudinally received by said one clip to allowreception of the remaining terminal by said other clip.

4. The light emitting diode device of claim 1 further characterized inthat said interiorly presented wall is tapered inwardly to produce adiametrally reduced inner end.

5. The light emitting diode device of claim I further characterized inthat said skirt section is provided with at least one slit to permitdiametral contraction and expansion thereof.

6. The light emitting diode device of claim I further characterized inthat said skirt section is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced axially extending slits to permit diametralcontraction and expansion of said skirt section.

7. A light emitting diode device as defined in claim I wherein said bodyhas an arcuately shaped annular outer wall and a relatively flat wallsection merging into said arcuately shaped annular wall.

8. The light emitting diode device of claim 7 further characterized inthat said relatively flat wall section extends axially along the bodyfor the full axial length of the body.

9. The light emitting diode device of claim 7 further characterized inthat the body has a transversely ex- 11 tending back wall extendingacross said body. a first conductive terminal extending from said backwall. and an arm extending from said arcuately shaped annular wall.

10. The light emitting diode device of claim 9 further characterized inthat said arm is defined by a clip wrapped about a portion of saidarcuately shaped annu lar wall.

ll. The light emitting diode device ofclaim 1 further characterized inthat said body has a back wall and an arm extending from said back wallto engage and hold said resistor against another interior wall of thebody.

12. A light emitting diode device as defined in claim 1 including a backwall on said body. first and second conductive terminals extendingthrough said back wall. said conductive terminals respectively connectedto said clips, :1 first embossment on said back wall in the shape of aconductive terminal designation and being located in proximity to saidfirst conductive terminal, and a second embossment on said back wall inthe shape of another conductive terminal designation and being locatedin proximity to said second conductive terminal.

13. The light emitting diode device of claim 12 further characterized inthat said first and second embossments are integrally formed on saidback wall.

14. The light emitting diode device of claim 12 further characterized inthat the first embossment has the shape of a -land the second embossmenthas the shape of a sign, and that said back wall is provided. with athird embossment means in the form of information bearing indicia andbeing spaced from said first and second embossments.

15. A light emitting diode device comprising an outer 12 housing. saidhousing having a longitudinally elongated body and an enlarged headconnected to said body said head having an interiorly presented wallforming a socket therein. a lens having an outer section and an annularskirt section projecting from said outer section. said skirt sectionremovably extending within said socket. recess means formed in saidinteriorly presented wall and somewhat resilient projecting lockingmeans on said skirt section sized and fitting within said recess meanswhen said skirt section is introduced into said socket for removableretaining said lens on said outer housing, a light emitting diodereceived within said lens and extending radially inwardly of said recessmeans, there being longitudinally elongated terminals of differentlengths connected with the diode. there also being electricallyconductive clips in the housing removably longitudinally receiving andengaging said terminals, one of said clips being located sufficientlycloser to said socket than the other clip that the terminal normallyreceived by said other clip cannot be suffi ciently longitudinallyreceived by said one clip to allow reception of the remaining terminalby said other clip.

16. The diode device of claim 15 wherein said body includes a back wallat the end thereof opposite the head and first and second conductiveterminals extend ing through said back wall and connected with saidclips, there being embossment structure projecting from the back wall atthe outer side thereof and located in proximity to said terminals.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the embossment structure includesfirst and second embossments respectively having the shape of and signs.

1. A light emitting diode device comprising an outer housing, saidhousing having a longitudinally elongated body and an enlarged headconnected to said body, said head having an interiorly presented wallforming a socket therein, a lens having an outer section and an annularskirt section projecting from said outer section, said skirt sectionremovably extending within said socket, recess means formed in saidinteriorly presented wall, and somewhat resilient projecting lockingmeans on said skirt section sized and fitting within said recess meanswhen said skirt section is introduced into said socket for removablyretaining said lens on said outer housing, a light emitting diodereceived within said lens and extending radially inwardly of said recessmeans, the diode having a longitudinally elongated terminal and arelatively short terminal, both said terminals projecting within ahollow formed by said housing elongated body, a resistor positioned insaid hollow by said body and in endwise alignment with said dioderelatively short terminal, said resistor having a conductive tab and aterminal at longitudinally opposite ends thereof, said tab integrallyconnected to the diode relatively short terminal whereby the diode ispositioned relative to the housing and lens by the resistor, there beingelectrically conductive clips in the housing removably longitudinallyreceiving and engaging the diode elongated terminal and the resistorterminal, whereby the diode and resistor may be longitudinally removedas a unit from the housing or returned as a unit into the housing viasaid socket after prior removal of the lens therefrom.
 1. A lightemitting diode device comprising an outer housing, said housing having alongitudinally elongated body and an enlarged head connected to saidbody, said head having an interiorly presented wall forming a sockettherein, a lens having an outer section and an annular skirt sectionprojecting from said outer section, said skirt section removablyextending within said socket, recess means formed in said interiorlypresented wall, and somewhat resilient projecting locking means on saidskirt section sized and fitting within said recess means when said skirtsection is introduced into said socket for removably retaining said lenson said outer housing, a light emitting diode received within said lensand extending radially inwardly of said recess means, the diode having alongitudinally elongated terminal and a relatively short terminal, bothsaid terminals projecting within a hollow formed by said housingelongated body, a resistor positioned in said hollow by said body and inendwise alignment with said diode relatively short terminal, saidresistor having a conductive tab and a terminal at longitudinallyopposite ends thereof, said tab integrally connected to the dioderelatively short terminal whereby the diode is positioned relative tothe housing and lens by the resistor, there being electricallyconductive clips in the housing removably longitudinally receiving andengaging the diode elongated terminal and the resistor terminal, wherebythe diode and resistor may be longitudinally removed as a unit from thehousing or returned as a unit into the housing via said socket afterprior removal of the lens therefrom.
 2. The light emitting diode deviceof claim 1 further characterized in that the resilient projectinglocking means on said skirt section is an annular ring extending aroundthe skirt section.
 3. The light emitting diode device of cliam 1 furthercharacterized in that one of said clips is located sufficiently closerto said socket than the other clip that the terminal normally receivedby said other clip cannot be sufficiently longitudinally received bysaid one clip to allow reception of the remaining terminal by said otherclip.
 4. The light emitting diode device of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that said interiorly presented wall is tapered inwardlyto produce a diametrally reduced inner end.
 5. The light emitting diodedevice of claim 1 further characterized in that said skirt section isprovided with at least one slit to permit diametral contraction andexpansion thereof.
 6. The light emitting diode device of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that said skirt section is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced axially extending slits to permit diametralcontraction and expansion of said skirt section.
 7. A light emittingdiode device as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has an arcuatelyshaped annular outer wall and a relAtively flat wall section merginginto said arcuately shaped annular wall.
 8. The light emitting diodedevice of claim 7 further characterized in that said relatively flatwall section extends axially along the body for the full axial length ofthe body.
 9. The light emitting diode device of claim 7 furthercharacterized in that the body has a transversely extending back wallextending across said body, a first conductive terminal extending fromsaid back wall, and an arm extending from said arcuately shaped annularwall.
 10. The light emitting diode device of claim 9 furthercharacterized in that said arm is defined by a clip wrapped about aportion of said arcuately shaped annular wall.
 11. The light emittingdiode device of claim 1 further characterized in that said body has aback wall and an arm extending from said back wall to engage and holdsaid resistor against another interior wall of the body.
 12. A lightemitting diode device as defined in claim 1 including a back wall onsaid body, first and second conductive terminals extending through saidback wall, said conductive terminals respectively connected to saidclips, a first embossment on said back wall in the shape of a conductiveterminal designation and being located in proximity to said firstconductive terminal, and a second embossment on said back wall in theshape of another conductive terminal designation and being located inproximity to said second conductive terminal.
 13. The light emittingdiode device of claim 12 further characterized in that said first andsecond embossments are integrally formed on said back wall.
 14. Thelight emitting diode device of claim 12 further characterized in thatthe first embossment has the shape of a ''''+'''' and the secondembossment has the shape of a ''''-'''' sign, and that said back wall isprovided with a third embossment means in the form of informationbearing indicia and being spaced from said first and second embossments.15. A light emitting diode device comprising an outer housing, saidhousing having a longitudinally elongated body and an enlarged headconnected to said body, said head having an interiorly presented wallforming a socket therein, a lens having an outer section and an annularskirt section projecting from said outer section, said skirt sectionremovably extending within said socket, recess means formed in saidinteriorly presented wall, and somewhat resilient projecting lockingmeans on said skirt section sized and fitting within said recess meanswhen said skirt section is introduced into said socket for removableretaining said lens on said outer housing, a light emitting diodereceived within said lens and extending radially inwardly of said recessmeans, there being longitudinally elongated terminals of differentlengths connected with the diode, there also being electricallyconductive clips in the housing removably longitudinally receiving andengaging said terminals, one of said clips being located sufficientlycloser to said socket than the other clip that the terminal normallyreceived by said other clip cannot be sufficiently longitudinallyreceived by said one clip to allow reception of the remaining terminalby said other clip.
 15. A light emitting diode device comprising anouter housing, said housing having a longitudinally elongated body andan enlarged head connected to said body, said head having an interiorlypresented wall forming a socket therein, a lens having an outer sectionand an annular skirt section projecting from said outer section, saidskirt section removably extending within said socket, recess meansformed in said interiorly presented wall, and somewhat resilientprojecting locking means on said skirt section sized and fitting withinsaid recess means when said skirt section is introduced into said socketfor removable retaining said lens on said outer housing, a lightemitting diode received within said lens and extending radially inwardlyof said recess means, there being longitudinally elongated terminals ofdifferent lengths connected with the diode, there also beingelectrically conductive clips in the housing removably longitudinallyreceiving and engaging said terminals, one of said clips being locatedsufficiently closer to said socket than the other clip that the terminalnormally received by said other clip cannot be sufficientlylongitudinally received by said one clip to allow reception of theremaining terminal by said other clip.
 16. The diode device of claim 15wherein said body includes a back wall at the end thereof opposite thehead and first and second conductive terminals extending through saidback wall and connected with said clips, there being embossmentstructure projecting from the back wall at the outer side thereof andlocated in proximity to said terminals.